Working Memory Model - S + W

Question 1

Paulescu et al

Answer 1

Used PET scans to record brain activity when participants were performing either verbal (using the phonological loop) or visual (using the visuo-spatial sketchpad) tasks and found that different areas of the brain were active during each task - supports model, as it suggests that visual and verbal tasks take place in completely separate parts of the brain

Question 2

KF case study

Answer 2

KF suffered brain damage from a motorcycle accident that damaged his short-term memory. His impairment was mainly for verbal information, with his memory for visual information being largely unaffected - supports model, as it suggests that verbal information is stored and processed separately and differently to visual information

Question 3

Lieberman

Answer 3

Model suggests that all information was once visual, but Lieberman points out that blind people have excellent spatial awareness without having ever had visual information - refutes model as it suggests that spatial awareness and information can be gained without being first visual, suggesting model to be reductionist

Question 4

Baddeley

Answer 4

Baddeley (1996) studied patients
with Alzheimer’s disease, and thus reduced CE functioning, who show a marked reduction in performance when given two simultaneous tasks, compared with normal participants - supports model, as suggests CE is essential for overseeing the prescription of verbal and visual info to respective parts of working memory